Hearing on Home Minister Lamichhane over, verdict likely today

KATHMANDU: The final hearing of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s citizenship dispute related case has ended on Friday afternoon and the final verdict in the case is most likely to come today.

The Constitutional Bench comprising Acting  Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki, Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha continued the hearing Home Minister Lamichhane’s citizenship dispute related writ that started on Wednesday.

Arguing on behalf of Lamichhane, senior advocate Narendra Gautam and others claimed that the petitioner has no right take the case to Constitutional Bench. They also argued that as no person can be without nationality, Lamichhane, who had been Nepali national prior to acquiring US Citizenship, became Nepali national immediately after denouncing the US Citizenship.

Advocate Raviraj Basaula, Yuvraj Poudel and others filed a writ petition raising questions about the eligibility of Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane, who is also the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives.

The writ petitioners demand for the cancellation of the post of MP as he has started a new party without obtaining citizenship here.

The Constitutional Bench members are in internal discussion prior to deciding whether to announce the final verdict today or on Sunday.